Reserve your account
Previously, the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) set a target of completing the discontinuation of 2G technology by September 15, 2024 at the latest. This is the expiration date of mobile telecommunications service business licenses and radio frequency band licenses, to comply with the radio frequency planning orientation.
However, on September 13, the Ministry of Information and Communications decided to postpone the 2G shutdown to October 15. The postponement of the 2G shutdown is to have more time to devote resources to overcoming the consequences of storm No. 3 and the flood situation after the storm, and to support the conversion of 4G phones for 2G only subscribers, especially subscribers in remote areas and provinces and cities affected by storms and floods, to ensure communication for users.
According to statistics from network operators, as of October 11, Vietnam still has about 700,000 subscribers using devices that only support 2G network (2G Only). Of which, Viettel Telecom is 360,000, Vinaphone 150,000, MobiFone under 50,000 and Vietnam Mobile about 10,000...
Mr. Nguyen Trong Tinh - Deputy General Director of Viettel Telecom said that the remaining subscribers are mostly in rural, mountainous, remote and most difficult areas. The target customers are usually the elderly and those who have little need to use the service.
Mr. Nguyen Dinh Dung - Deputy Head of MobiFone Telecommunications Services Department - said that after October 15, MobiFone will block the device but still retain the account and subscription for customers, so that customers have time to switch, ensuring the preservation of the customer's account.
Mr. Do Manh Dung - Acting Director of the Personal Customer Department of VNPT VinaPhone also confirmed that all subscribers will have their accounts reserved after October 15. VinaPhone will continue to maintain the policy of giving away and supporting devices to customers, continue to support customers at VinaPhone locations, as well as directly at home for customers to use services such as: Changing SIM cards, instructions for use, experiencing data to access the network, etc.
General trend of the world
According to Mr. Nguyen Phong Nha, Deputy Director of Telecommunications, the process of stopping 2G technology is divided into 2 phases: The first phase from October 15 will stop providing 2G subscriber terminal services; the second phase is until September 2026, stopping all 2G network provision to reserve resources for newer networks such as 4G, 5G. Turning off old technology such as 2G, 3G is a common trend in the world.
“2G technology has been used for 30 years, many network devices have degraded quality, consume a lot of electricity, and are unstable, so replacement is inevitable when new technology is ready. This is the consensus and practical requirement of production and business” - Mr. Nha said.
Users have the choice of a smartphone or a 4G push-button phone. Carriers have programs to encourage switching to smartphones, or to exchange 2G push-button phones for 4G push-button phones for free for users who are not familiar with smartphones.
According to Deputy Director of Telecommunications, in January 2024, Vietnam had more than 18 million 2G subscribers. At present, there are only about 700,000 devices left. This is a huge effort to maintain network quality, develop 5G network as well as maintain production and business. Enterprises have shown responsibility in reducing the number of 2G subscribers.
Mr. Nha suggested that network operators continue to implement customer care policies to support customers in switching subscribers, ensuring consumer rights.
In addition to the efforts of businesses (the more subscribers a business has in remote areas, the harder it is), there is also the participation of media agencies, newspapers, and television to accompany the communication of the policies of the Ministry of Information and Communications.
